[Initial experience in intraoperative radiolocalization of the parathyroid adenoma with freehand SPECT and...

Initial experience is presented by using freehand SPECT in the intraoperative radiolocalization of a parathyroid adenoma in 2 patients, one which was mediastinal. There is only one previous publication including 3 patients with parathyroid adenomas in usual parathyroid localizations. We also report for the first time a comparative assessment of results with portable gammacamera during the same surgery. In the operating room, we obtained images with portable gamma-camera and 3 D reconstruction with freehand SPECT from 15 min after iv injection of 5 mCi of (99m)Tc-MIBI. Both devices enabled the 2 adenomas to be detected intraoperatively, as well as checking activity of the excised gland and absence of significant uptake in surgical bed, with confirmation by intraoperative pre-postsurgical PTH levels, pathology and clinical follow-up for 10 months. Both devices accurately located the parathyroid adenomas intraoperatively, as well as confirmation of their extirpation, but freehand SPECT provided additional information of adenoma depth (mm) from the skin border, very useful for minimally invasive radio-guided surgery.